February 18, 2015

Assignments Matter Workshop--Wednesday, August 5, 2015

9:00 am to 3:00 pm, 135 Nicholson Hall (University of Minnesota East Bank)
Limited to 25 middle school or high school teachersFree, but registration is requiredTo register, email mwp@umn.edu
Registration deadline: July 24, 2015

Assignments Matter Training is for middle school and high school teachers of all content areas that work with literacy and the Literacy State and Common Core Standards.

Learn about a Writing Assignment Template designed to help teachers create more meaningful writing assignments and ensure alignment with the Common Core Standards

Try a Peer Jurying tool to validate writing assignments before using them with students

Join a community of teachers working and learning together

Use social media to connect with other training sites on that day

In addition, each participant will:

Earn CEU credits

Get a free lunch

Have an opportunity to become involved with a community of teachers working together to improve education and student writing. Together we work smarter and stronger!

We encourage experienced social justice educators and those new to the theme to join us! Past Invitational Summer and Open Institute participants are welcome, as are both degree and non-degree seeking students.

WHEN?
Monday-Friday, June 15-19; Tuesday, June 23; and Friday, June 26
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE?
Nicholson Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis East Bank Campus

WRITING
You will reflect on your own writing processes as you write, share your writing, and participate in a community of writers. Writing groups will meet several times during the week.

TEACHING
You will consider the theory and practice of writing instruction that helps students achieve their potential as writers and change agents.

LEARNING
You will examine a current literacy issue related to the course theme: Writing for Social Justice. Course texts include Linda Christensen's Reading, Writing, and Rising Up and Teaching for Joy and Justice.

For more information on how to register for the Open Institute, contact mwp@umn.edu

January 13, 2015

MWP Book Club--Terry Farish's The Good Braider

The winter selection for our on-line book club, is The Good Braider by Terry Farish. Written in free verse, the novel relates a family's journey from the Sudan to Maine. School Library Journal shared in a starred review, "Viola's memorable, affecting voice will go far to help students step outside of their own experience and walk a mile in another's shoes."

To become a member of the club, join Goodreads and then send an email to Debra Hartley (hartley@umn.edu) telling her that you want to join the MWP Book Club. In addition, if you have any questions about or suggestions for the book club, please let Debra know.

November 11, 2014

Offered through a special collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, three questions will guide the sessions in this series:January 10, 2015: How do we connect ELA standards to state writing tests?

February 7, 2015: How do we write argumentation through blended genres?

March 14, 2015: How do we utilize technology to produce and publish?

All workshops are led by practicing educators affiliated with the Minnesota Writing Project. For more information download the flyer from the link below.

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Cost: $50 per session - Graduate credit option available for attendance at all three.

October 22, 2014

Next MWP Book Club book: The Burgess Boys

Our fall selection is a novel, The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout (author of Olive Kitteridge).

Set in both Maine and New York City, the book focuses on the relationship among three siblings, Jim and Bob Burgess and their sister Susan. Zach, Susan's son, gets into a world of trouble, and she calls on her brothers for help. The conflict involves the family but also the community as a whole that is grappling with the recent influx of Somali immigrants. In our times of dealing with many cultural differences, the book offers much to think about and to discuss!

Instead of a series of questions, we're posing only two: What was your reaction to the book: the characters, the conflict and the themes? How does the story relate to your teaching?

To become a member of the club, join Goodreads and then send an email to Debra Hartley (hartley@umn.edu) telling her that you want to join the MWP Book Club. In addition, if you have any questions about or suggestions for the book club, please let Debra know.

Our winter selection will be The Good Braider. More details will follow.

October 10, 2014

Give to the Max Day, 13 November 2014

The Minnesota Writing Project will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2015!
Please help us recognize our history and prepare for the next 25 years of teachers teaching teachers by giving to us on (or before) 13 November 2014, Give to the Max Day.

Your gift may provide funding for

....Fellowships for teachers in underserved areas to attend the MWP Summer Institute on the Twin Cities campus
....Opportunities for teachers to attend and share their best practices at regional and national professional development conferences
....A video showcasing the MWP's first 25 years of supporting the professional development of Minnesota educators

Double your donation: Friends of MWP will match your gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $350. Please help us meet this challenge and reach our goal of $1,000.

May 9, 2014

Author Talk - Sarah Stonich, Wednesday, June 25th, 2014

Author Sarah Stonich will be the guest presenter at this year's Mt. Olivet retreat for the 24th Annual Invitational Summer Institute on Wednesday, June 25th. Stonich's critically acclaimed novels include Vacationland and These Granite Islands.

See Stonich's website for more information about her work and contact Muriel Thompson (murielt@umn.edu) for more details about this author event.

May 6, 2014

MWP 8th Annual Fall Workshop - October 11th, 2014

Save the date! Our 8th Annual Fall Workshop will be held on Saturday, October 11th. We are thrilled to welcome Paul Oh, Senior Program Associate for the National Writing Project, who will speak about Connected Learning and other digital initiatives at NWP.

March 13, 2014

2014 MWP Spring Writing Day

MWP will host a Spring Writing Day on Saturday, April 26, from 12:30-3:30pm in 12 Nicholson Hall at the University of Minnesota. There will be time for participants to write, share, and meet with an old (or new!) writing group.

Members of the MWP Online Book Club who can make it into the Twin Cities will also have time to meet face-to-face and continue a discussion on the first book, Pat Conroy's My Reading Life.

The MWP Online Book Club

The Minnesota Writing Project has a new online book club through Goodreads. The MWP Book Club is a private group just for MWP Summer Institute participants and other educators associated with MWP, such as our collaborative partner, the Trondheim Writing Project.

To become a member of the club, join Goodreads and then send an email to Debra Hartley (hartley@umn.edu) telling her that you want to join the MWP Book Club.

Our spring book will be My Reading Life by Pat Conroy. By Friday, March 21st, Marsha Besch, the book club discussion leader, will post a few questions to stimulate our thinking as we read. Online discussion of the book will begin on Monday, April 14th. Club members are encouraged to have read at least half of the book by then.

2014 MWP Open Institute: Writing for Social Justice

This 3-credit graduate course is open to teachers from any discipline, K-College, including those who have already attended the Invitational Summer Institute. The MWP Open Institute course will focus on writing for change and social justice, exploring themes of social justice through writing, teaching and learning. In addition to writing, participants will read from course texts such as Linda Christensen's Reading, Writing, and Rising Up and Teaching for Joy and Justice. For more information see the course flier: 2014 Open Institute.

2014 Saturday Session Workshops: Teaching for Justice and Equity within the Common Core

Offered through a special collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, this year's workshops include half-day sessions focused on Teaching for Justice and Equity within the Common Core Standards.

Three questions will guide the sessions in this series:
• January 25th, 2014:What is a social justice approach to teaching literacy?
• February 22nd, 2014: How do teachers incorporate themes of justice and equity into their subjects while meeting the CCSS?
• March 29th, 2014: How do teachers respond successfully to the challenges of incorporating a social justice approach to teaching?

All workshops are led by practicing educators affiliated with the Minnesota Writing Project. For more information see the registration form attached below.